This year’s 39th annual ALANA (African, Latino, Asian and Native American) Conference will run from Sept. 20 to 28, offering a series of programs and workshops emphasizing cultural diversity, student leadership and campus community. 

Organized by the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership and the ALANA  student organizations, this year’s theme, “Becoming the Best You,” emphasizes self-leadership and personal growth as the foundation for making a difference on campus and beyond. 

Dorren Allen-Carr, interim assistant director of Student Engagement and Leadership, explained that this year’s planning committee aimed to shift the focus from solely helping students lead others to helping them cultivate their own personal growth. 

“Leadership is often taught as a way to be the best for others,” Allen-Carr said. “But this year, we wanted to center the conference on how you can be the best version of yourself. That’s the essence of self-leadership, and that’s what we’re really highlighting.”

The conference will open with the International Day of Peace Walk on Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. at the Marano Campus Center bus loop, walking around the campus. The conference’s leaders invite the entire campus community to walk in solidarity, promoting peace, unity, and respect. It will be preceded by campus activities and brunch from noon to 2 p.m. in the Marano Campus Center’s Laker Landing (food court).

On Sept. 22, nationally acclaimed leadership speaker Joshua Fredenberg will deliver a keynote speech in Sheldon Hall ballroom at 5 p.m. His speech will discuss self-awareness and help students develop habits that support their personal and academic growth. 

The following day, Sept. 23, features “The Tea About College Life,” where a panel of student leaders and campus professionals will discuss and answer questions about their call to leadership, academic success, and personal development. The event offers students a chance to learn about leadership development from a diverse lens, and concludes with a question and answer session. 

On Sept. 24, “The Best Me Looks Like This” talent show will showcase the creativity of students, faculty and staff, and features diverse performances. 

Sept. 25 is dedicated to round-robin leadership workshops led by student organizations and campus partners on topics such as time management, team building, emotional intelligence, professionalism and more. 

Students can also put their leadership into action with the “Shining Waters” service project on Sept. 26. In collaboration with the Office of Sustainability, students will come together to clean and restore the shore of Lake Ontario. 

The conference will conclude on Sept. 27 with the “Rise and Lead” conference dinner. The evening will feature speaker Dar Mayweather, who will deliver a speech on the ongoing pursuit of leadership opportunities on and off campus. The event will also honor the legacy of the late Howard Gordon, a longtime SUNY Oswego leader and co-founder of the ALANA Conference. 

Student planning process

Several student organizations helped plan this year’s ALANA conference, including the African Student Organization, Black Student Union, Asian Student Association, Caribbean Student Association, Latin Student Union and International Student Association. 

Dayna Purrier, president of the Caribbean Student Association and member of the planning committee, said the groups played a central role in shaping the week’s programs by hosting performances, discussions, and cultural showcases. 

“Our association helps add the Caribbean aspect to the conference and works with the other multicultural organizations to promote unity and inclusion across campus,” Purrier said. 

Jamal Akin-Tukur, president of the International Students Association and another planning committee member, said ALANA reaches beyond cultural diversity. 

“The impact and intention behind this weeklong series of events is beyond a social and cultural phenomenon,” Akin-Tukur said. “It’s academic, it’s financial, it’s leadership, it’s servitude.” 

Akin-Tukur emphasized the importance of events like “The Tea About College Life” and the leadership workshops for first-year and international students seeking resources and support. 

“It hurts me personally when I know somebody who has a problem at this institution and there’s a solution within this institution, but because of their lack of knowledge, they end up leaving the school,” Akin-Tukur explained

Organizers of the conference stressed ALANA’s role in helping students feel at home on campus. 

“ALANA gives students from many different cultural backgrounds a chance to come together, share their experiences and celebrate who they are,” Purrier said. “It’s a space where diversity is not only accepted but encouraged and appreciated.” 

Allen-Carr described the process as “leaders preparing leaders.” 

“It's one of those things where you work together to build a blueprint, watch the mission come to life, and say, yeah, this is good work,” he said. “It enhances our students academically, personally, professionally and socially, and we’re growing ourselves at the same time.” 

All conference events are free and open to the SUNY Oswego community. For more information and a schedule, visit the ALANA Conference website.

-- Written by Emma Kerl of the Class of 2026